Sunday, April 28, 2013

We thought it would never come but this morning I believed Spring had finally Sprung! I woke up to see the sun streaming in and hear the birds chirping. The first thing I did was open up every window upstairs. I have been busy all week. I did enjoy my little day away even it was literally only a 24 hour break. Since I got home I've been "taking care of business". There's always so much to do around a house when the seasons change.

I know I say this every year but really, I have too many clothes. I did gather up 2 garbage bags to donate to the charity shop though.

Between heavy work commitments and home chores, my blogging has suffered. I'm just not feeling it lately. I haven't been hooking for about 2 weeks either. I find when I'm not into a project I find it hard to post. I did try to hook a bit tonight. I took a photo of the rug before I started. Once I sit back and look at the pic then I see things I don't like and want to change.It frustrates me and so I only hooked a short time. I needed to cut more wool but instead I just packed it up. Sigh.....I'm just not feeling it. I like the bottom but there are issues at the top. Seems hooking and blogging are tied for me.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I'm having a quiet, relaxing evening.......away! I'm traveling for work. It must be over a year and a half since I spent a night away from home. The last 2 times I did that Mom had a bad fall. Dear (stubborn) Auntie resists outside help. I was prepared to get up really, really early and make the long drive both ways tomorrow. I wasn't looking forward to it. Then earlier today she suggested I should leave after work and stay overnight. So we pulled off a military style coordination of family to come to the house the evening and make sure moms transfers upstairs and to bed were safe.

I just had a long hot bubble bath, with nobody banging on the door telling me to hurry up or that they need something. I am sitting on a queen size bed, iPad on lap, surrounded by junk food. Oh yeah, I'm living it up! The hotel isn't fancy but its nice and spotless. This guy was waiting to greet me in the lobby

The photo isn't mine but from their website. His name is Cocoa, because we're on Chocolate Lake ;).

Monday, April 22, 2013

Oh, I'm wired all right! Literally. This morning I had to go get a 24 hour heart monitor at the hospital. Nothing too serious so don't panic. Just a racing heart which I am sure is part of the other "list" of thyroid related symptoms that my doctor seems to be in denial over. Arrrgh (insert frustrated face here)
So I have 7 or 8 pads taped to my chest with corresponding wires attached to a little device which is stuffed down my pants, bulging quite unflatteringly at my hip. Sounds great, doesn't it? Sexy, I know.

The little dark grey strap holding the little computer thingy is under my shirt and over my arm. Comfy?? NO And the tape holding the little pads is itchy. And I have to keep a diary of every thing I do all day. You know, when you see it all down on paper you realize just how boring your life is....... So 4 hours down - 20 more to go.

This morning one of the stupid wires came un-tucked and was hanging a bit below my sweater. In order to make this experience just a little more entertaining, I told someone I was working undercover for the police and I was wearing a wire! Lol

The whole over-45 ageing thing is really not all that it's cracked up to be. On the bright side, the mammogram report came in today and all is good for another year. And I delivered our tax stuff to the accountant today at noon. Yeah!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

I was a little surprised I hadn't posted since Tuesday. But as you could tell from that post, I was getting bogged down and overwhelmed. First, before I forget, I really appreciated your comments from that post. Your support was helpful. I tried to go through the rest of the week without feeling obligated to do anything extra. I do feel re-charged and ready for the week ahead.

Add to that, it was a great weekend. We did the regular Friday night happy hour. The place was packed and it was nice to sit with friends and listen to the music. Last night was the final performance of a local theatre company's production of My Fair Lady. We made it a true Girl's Night Out - a gang of us met first for drinks and dinner and then headed to the Play. The production was excellent. There is a lot of talent in our little town. Now brace yourselves........I didn't get home until after 11pm! Shocking, I know :)

Now, I need to get off this computer and fulfill my promise to get our taxes ready. The clock is ticking!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

My brain! It's going non stop. Is it Friday yet? That gives you an idea of my week so far :(. Warning - I might get a little whiny here. Things started to go downhill Sunday. I got a last minute work commitment Monday and today. The problem was Mom's birthday was yesterday and I had arranged for the little gathering of her old buddies. Nothing fancy, just cake, ice cream and tea. But I had to work.

I felt guilty about not being there so I didn't sleep much Sunday night. That makes for a long day. My session lasted until 8pm. I was tired, guilty, and crabby and honestly I hoped all the fuss was over at home. I knew by then that Mom would be in not a good state. Her cognitive skills slide downward in the evening. But after a 12 hour work day, I arrived home and it was "standing room only". I should be grateful her friends had gathered around for her. But the truth is I wanted everyone to go home. I'm sure their intent was to be thoughtful, so they all waited for me to get home before they had the cake and treats. I had so hoped it would all be over when I got home. Yes, I realize how bad this sounds but I'm just being honest here. They left just after 9:30.

I was back in that work session all day today after the 2nd virtually sleepless night. When I got home at supper time I was so tired I could have just sat down and cried for no reason. Tonight I'm just going to unwind with a long, hot bath and maybe a little hooking. I haven't checked blogs for a few days but I'll catch up later in the week.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Actually I did find my get-up-and-go today but this picture just made me laugh. However, a little warning....be careful doing a google image search for "giddy up". There's a few shockers mixed in there. (Blush)

I got all kinds of stuff done around the house today. The last load of laundry is spinning in the dryer. The only thing that still is outstanding are the taxes. It would probably take less than a half an hour to gather the stuff up but Ugghh, I just can't seem to get that one done.

My rug hooking block seems to have passed. I hooked last night and again this morning!! So far I have hooked each lupin a little differently. Not sure yet which way looks best but at least it's progress. When I get more filled in I think the answer will appear to me ;). At least I'm hoping.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

I just realized it's been days since I posted. There just hasn't been much to say I suppose. The only fun thing I've done is go to Happy Hour with the girls Friday after work. There was a martini special and a guy singing and playing guitar at the pub. It was nice. And I deserved that martini because I had my annual mammogram that afternoon. That machine was definitely invented by a man. We get "the vise" and all men have to do is turn their head to the left and cough! It's hardly fair is it ladies?

I haven't touched my rug for days. The lupin dilemma continues to dog me. Last night I dragged the frame out and all the wool. I just looked at it for a few minutes and then put it away again. Tonight I decided to just go for it. Just hook for the pleasure of it and not worry if its perfect. I need to get some more done and then look at it more critically later. If I stress over every strand I will never get anywhere. So, although Spring flowers are not blooming here, they are blooming on the burlap.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

It appears that the buckwheat hull pillow is not for me. I've tried it for a week now. I think I knew it after the first couple of nights but wanted to give it a fair try. But enough is enough. Tonight it's back to the old pillow. My next quest might be memory foam. I think it's the only type I haven't tried yet.

In other news, I finally went for my eye examination. As the exam went on, I started getting a sense where things were going....... I had a bad feeling. So I said "you better not say the word "bifocals" or things are going to get ugly". He laughed and assures me he's not going to say "that word". For a moment I relaxed. Then Dr. Chuckles hits me with this..... "You need Progressive Lenses". Isn't that the same thing??? Yes he says, "but people your age think it sounds better than bifocals". LOL

The good news is my contacts will stay the same. Only my glasses need to be changed. I only wear them when I read in bed so its not that bad. I admit though, it did make me feel kind of old.

And finally, the quest to locate signs of Spring continues. Another un-spring-like weather event on the way. Grrrrrr

Sunday, April 7, 2013

You know that expression "you've gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet"...... Well I feel like that has been my latest rug hooking adventure. This post could also be called "evolution of a hooker". I'm still learning and trying to get more adventurous and more open to color.

But with that comes the acceptance that sometimes stuff just doesn't work. And you have to be prepared to start again. In my early hooking days there was just no way that I would ever rip out sections and start again. Oh The Horror!!

But I'm so in love with my current pattern that I need it to be perfect. I don't normally show my mistakes (well, who likes to admit failure?)One of my large sunflowers just isn't working for me. The wool hooked up just to drab.

It's not the best picture - poor lighting but it looks really bad in person. So I will look for some brighter wool and re-do that middle flower.

The bottom of the pattern has lots of large lupins. I've been planning in my head how to hook them. I ordered some skeins of various shades of purple from the lovely Jen at Fish Eye Rugs. But it's not looking right. The wool is perfect, but I think I need to re-think my color mixing.

I've ripped it out and I'm putting it aside for now and will start fresh this week. I'll try and try again until I get it right. (Even if it takes forever). ;)

Saturday, April 6, 2013

It's been a few days of busy, fun, and many calories. Last night was our Ladies Dinner Club. I'm not sure if it was Spring Fever but it was like "middle aged women gone wild". It was like the 12 of us had just been let out of a deep hole. I don't think we've ever been so loud and rambunctious. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Here's a photo of the seafood salad we started with - Yes, there was shrimp, scallops and lobster tail on that plate!

Then this morning I picked up a treat. I won a little Facebook contest from a local start-up bakery and got a dozen mini cupcakes. And yes, they tasted as good as they look

Later I had a nice visit at the coffee shop with a cousin from out of town. We caught up on all the family news :). So it was a pretty good weekend so far. To cap off a great day I'm ending with a few hours of hooking. Another sunflower has bloomed on the burlap

Thursday, April 4, 2013

The perfect pillow. Does it exist? I have tried pillow after pillow and I'm still searching. It wasn't that long ago I bought new pillows (again). It's always the same story. The first few weeks of a new pillow are all honeymoon. Then inevitably they get lumpy or flat, or worse - both. Headaches, neck pain, tossing and turning.....

Yet the eternal optimist in me still searches. Recently a friend started raving about her new pillow. It's filled with buckwheat hulls. I know.....you're thinking I'm crazy. But I've asked around and several friends and family have tried them and are pleased. The best part is that they are made locally.

I ordered one after supper online and it was delivered to my door at 8pm. To my door people!!! Amazing right? If the pillow is half as good as the customer service I'm in for a treat. Apparently it takes about a week to adjust to the pillow.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Since there is a lot of fuss and uncertainty about what will happen when Google Reader disappears soon, I thought I would try Bloglovin to see how it works. You can follow me through the regular follow button, or click on the bloglovin button on the right side of the blog.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

I haven't visiting the Chats on the Porch linky for awhile so today I decided to jump back in. Patrice, our host from Everyday Ruralty poses weekly questions to get us all chatting.

It is always nice to see other people's answers to the weekenly questions and you often find a new blogger who you have things in common with.

Plus Patrice's horse Wendell is always good for a little chuckle. OK, here we go with the questions.

What did you do for Easter?

Easter was very quiet at our house this year. We just spent the long weekend relaxing. We had a few visitors and invited a friend over for the big Easter dinner as she was going to be alone. It was nice to just relax.
2. How bad were you with candy or treats? (On a scale of 1-10. 1 being good, 10 being sugared up)

I was good - like a #1 (up to a point) I made a royal decree that no chocolate was to be brought into the house. But then a visitor brought in a few choocolate bunnies. Sigh...... I was still good until Monday afternoon when the electricity went out for 4 hours. I admit it - I took my frustration out on the bunny. I zoomed to a 10 on the scale :)

3. What's one of the first things you'd like to do when you have consistent spring temperatures?

Well, you know I have a "thing" about shoes..... So when the snow melts and the weather starts to warm up I like to start sorting through my shoes. Its not quite flip flop time, but soon the boots will be replaced by shoes. Lots and lots of shoes Bahahahahahaha (thats my evil laugh)

4. How are you at gift buying?

I love to shop. And I would be great at gift buying if I could stick to the task and not think I had to buy myself something too ;)

5. Do you have an projects in mind for the month of April?

I've started a big floral hooked rug pattern and I would love to have it finished by the end of April. I think that may be a tad ambitious but I am going to give it a try. And a carry over from the month of March is to finally get my taxes done :(Don't forget to visit the other linky participants!

Monday, April 1, 2013

April didn't come in with a Bang. It was more like a Poof. Like Poof - the lights went out! Mid afternoon the electricity went off and stayed off about 4 hours! The house was starting to get a little chilly. We live in a big old house (which is a nice way of saying "drafty old house")

It came back on around 7pm, just after I gathered up and lit all the candles. Of well, I was happy to hear the hum of the furnace. And happy to make hot tea for all of us. I wonder if NS Power Corp thought it was a fun April Fools prank? FYI - it wasn't !

I can't believe my mini vacation is almost over. I am extra-dreading tomorrow. That's the downside of having a good break.